Denise Welch for Loose Women / ITV
Denise Welch has announced that she is stepping down from Loose Women after 27 years of appearing on the show.
The former Coronation Street and Hollyoaks actress, 68, made her debut on the lunchtime chat show in 1999 as a guest panellist before becoming a regular a few years later.
In a video posted to Instagram, she said: “I’m leaving Loose Women. After [the] best part of 25 years, off and on, I did leave for about seven years and went back in 2018. This show has been a part of me and my family’s life for nearly a quarter of a century.
“I have the most wonderful, wonderful memories and it’s just that acting has always been my first love and I think the thing I’m best at, and at the moment I’m having the most wonderful opportunities coming my way, and I’m grabbing them by the you-know-whats and running with it for this new chapter of my life.
“So I just wanted to say that in person to thank all of the people who have shared my stories with me, I’ve shared my life with you, the good, the bad and the ugly. I’m very Marmite, but I cherish all the comments good or bad that I’ve had over the years and I just hope you wish me well for this new and exciting chapter in my life.
“I’ll miss everybody but I will remain friends with the whole gang because… we are a happy band of campers. Anyway lots of love, thanks for sticking with me.”
A spokesperson for the show confirmed: “Denise has been such a brilliant part of the Loose Women family and we are going to miss her hugely on the show.
“We are sending her all of our love and best wishes for her next chapter.”
Welch was recently seen in Russell T Davies drama Tip Toe and also guested in the 5 crime drama Benidorm Is Murder.
